Blue Jays' Tulowitzki not expected to return in 2018

Troy Tulowitzki is not expected to return to the Toronto Blue Jays’ lineup this season. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

It appears that the Toronto Blue Jays won’t be seeing Troy Tulowitzki take the field in 2018.

Manager John Gibbons reportedly told Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet that the five-time All-Star is not expected to be back this season. The shortstop has been recovering from a surgery he underwent on April 2. The procedure involved removing bone spurs from both of his ankles.

The 33-year old was optimistic earlier this season that he would be able to return to the lineup, but it seems likely that the next time Tulowitzki could suit up for the Blue Jays would be in 2019 – if all goes well with his recovery.

The former first-round pick still has two years plus a club option left on his current contract. He is owed $20 million in 2019, $14 million in 2020, and his option is slated to pay him $15 million if the team were to pick it up in 2021.

Toronto’s answer at shortstop this season has been Aledmys Diaz who was acquired in the off-season from the St. Louis Cardinals. Diaz, while originally brought in to back up Tulowitzki, has been solid in an everyday role. His 16 home runs are tied for seventh-best among shortstops in the majors, while only one shy of his single-season best of 17 which he recorded in 2016.

The last time Tulowitzki suited up to play a game with Toronto was July 28th, 2017.